Office of Management and Budget: Recent Government Accountability Office Decisions Concerning Small Business Programs

Several recent Government Accountability Office decisions have impacted application of “parity” among three small business programs: the 8(a), SDVOSB, and the HUBZone programs.

The Office of Management and Budget's memorandum states that the Government Accountability Office's decisions in Mission Critical Solutions and International Program Group Inc are inconsistent with Small Business Administration regulations by limiting contracting officer discretion in deciding which of the three small business programs best satisfies an agency’s requirements.

Accordingly, the Office of Management and Budget has initiated a review of the basis of the Government Accountability Office's decisions and advised agencies that the Small Business Administration's “parity” regulations continue to be binding.